Gabrielle Chanel opened the Chanel fashion house as a millinery shop in Paris in 1910. The shop initially sold hats, establishing the brand before it expanded into clothing, accessories, and fragrance.
Chanel’s early success grew from Gabrielle Chanel’s modern approach to women’s clothing. She used jersey, a fabric associated with underwear and sportswear, to create comfortable garments that contrasted with the restrictive fashions common in the early twentieth century.
The company later became famous for designs including the little black dress, the Chanel suit, quilted handbags, and Chanel No. 5. The interlocking double-C logo is also strongly associated with the brand, although it was introduced after Chanel’s earliest millinery period.
Chanel is sometimes confused with the name of its founder, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. “Chanel” identifies the fashion house, while “Coco” was her widely known nickname.